Coin-box station



Dec. 3, 1929. M. AUTERI COIN B01; STATION Filed July 11, 1927 --.-Imr-; mic-hale HUTEPIE FH'F:

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IDtlII('JHIEJ'.|]i| AUTERI, 0F MILAN, ITALY, 'ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS diHALSKE AKTIENGE- SELLSCHAF'I WERNERWERK, OF SIEMENSSTADT, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY COIN-BOX STATION Application filed July 11, 1927, Serial No. 204,828, and in Gerniany July 23, 1926.

. The invention relates to com box stations collector which has been shown inpart only in telephone systems, wherein the completion of a call can only take place after inserting coins, and the invention may be considered an improvement on the disclosure shown in my copending application Serial No. 147,687, filed November 11, 1926.

The invention aims at facilitating in a simple and reliable way, the establishment of calls of different value. This is accomplished by bringing about a switching action by the insertion of coins eorrespondmg to the charge for a call of minor value, which swltching action completes the call, while the transmission of a checking signal for an operator takes place only after the insertion of a number of coins corresponding to a call of higher value. In coin box stations with a swing com chute provided with a collect key, such as the one disclosed in the above mentioned application, the chute actuates the unlocking device. for the impulse or talkin circuits when coins corresponding to a call of minor value are 1nserted and the chute can also operate a signal gong for transmitting a signal to an operator in case a call of higher value is desired. However, the operation of the gong is only possible when the correct number of coins corresponding to the call of high value has been inserted.

The drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 4., 1nclusive, show an example of carrying out the invention when applied to a coin collect station equipped with a swingingcoin chute, for controlling the circuits and the collect and refund operations. All parts unimportant for an understanding of the invention have been omitted for the sake of simplicity. Reference may be had to the copending application cited above for a detailed account of the operations and of the structure of this type of apparatus.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of the coin collecting device in front elevation.

Fig. 2 show-s the same device in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan View, and

Fig. illustrates the circuit of a subscribers station equipped with a coin box.

The topportion 1 of the coin chute 2 is firmly connected to the casing 3 of the coin for the sake of keeping the drawing and the description as simple as possible. The coin ch ute 2 itself is pivotally mounted about the spindle 4 and has its bottom end provided with an opening 5. A bolt 6 has one end rotruding into the opening 5 (see Fig. 2 in order to keep inserted coins in a certain positlon. The other end of the bolt 6 actuates the spr1ng 26 of an alternating contact. This bolt 6 s held in its rest position by a spring 9 and 1s provided with a projecting locking catch 10, which may be engaged by a lever arm 11. This lever arm 11 is pivoted at point 12 and has one extension'reaching into the top of the coin chute. The coin chute 2 has an excision 13, which, in the example shown lies level With the second coin 7. (Two coins 7 and 7 have been shown in Fig. 1). Located behind the excision 13 is a 2-armed lever 14,. which can actuate a leaf spring 16, loaded by a weight 15, in such a manner that the contact 17, shown in Fig. 3,'opens and closes several times in succession. The key 18 when operated, actuates the swinging chute portion 2. As soon as the key 18 is released the spring 19 draws the chute back into its normal position. A spring 20 fixed to the coin chute 2 and shown in Fig. 1, is used for returning the coins if a call is not completed, the ejecting 80 chute 22 beingmade accessible to the swinging chute by pulling the ring on the key 21 so that the coins fall outwards into a refund container.

The operations of the coin box station will now be explained somewhat more in detail:

It shall be assumed first that the last call made by the coin box station was successful, i. e., a conversation has taken place. In such a'case the collect key 18 had been actuated and the bolt 6 was brought into its working position. By means of the catch 10 and the lever 11 the bolt 6 was locked in the working position. Thus, its front end does not protrude into the opening 5 of the .swinging coin chute 2. As will be seen from the contact arrangement, the contacts 26/27 are closed at this instant. The subscriber can now insert a coin to extend a further call.

This acts on the portion of the lever 11 which 100 protrudes into the fixed coin chute 1, turning the lever 11 about its axis '12. The catch 10 is thereby released and the bolt 6 moves to normal. The coin drops into the swing ing chute 2 where it is lirmly secured by the bolt 6. The return of the bolt to normal causes the contacts 26/27 to be opened and cont-acts 26/28 to be closed. By means of a series of current impulses the subscriber can now position all selectors necessary for buildipg up a call. After sendmg out a particular number of digits, say three, the contact 25 is closed in some known manner, which is of no further interest here, establishing a short circuit to the transmitter. If the desired subscriber replies, the calling subscriber can bear but cannot make himself heard due to the short circut around the transmitter.

In order to remove the short circuit around the transmitter, it is necessary to depress the collect key 18. Since there is a coin inthe coin chute, the bolt 6 can be brought, through the swinging chute, into the working position by the coin acting as a coupling member, so that the spring 26 is moved into alternate position, removing the short circuit around the transmitter and closing the contact 26/27. Upon releasing the key 18 the bolt 6 will remain in its working position, because, as has been mentioned already, the lever 11 is locked by means of the catch 10. When the swinging chute reaches the rest position, the coin will fall into the collect receptacle 23, as the front portion of the bolt 6 no longer protrudes into the coin chute.

In order to avoid faulty operation due to the subscriber depressing the payment key 18 for an insuflicient period, which may result in operating the contacts 26/27 without locking the bolt 6 in its working position, so that during the return of the coin chute, it is also possible for the bolt 6 to go back thus retaining a coin for a subsequent call, there is provided a special contact 24 which short circuits the transmitter when the payment key 1.8 is depressed. Thus the talking circuit is only established when the bolt 6 is in the working position and the payment key 18 in the. rest position.

The following takes place if the subscriber attempts to establish a call without inserting coins. He can send out a certain number of impulse series, say 3. It is impossible, however. to transmit a fourth series of impuises as the contacts 26/27 are closed, and, as already mentioned, the contact 25 is closed by the impulse sender after the third digit. Hence, the impulse contact is short circuited. Thus, in order to be able to establish a connection, the subscriber must insert a coin in any case.

If the last attempted connection was unsuccessful due to the called subscriber not having replied or having been busy, the bolt 6 Will be in the normal or rest position. The

contacts 26/28 are therefore closed and the contacts 26/27 are opened. \Vhile it is true that the subscriber has the possibility of sending out the digits without inserting a coin, yet he is unable to remove the short circuit from around the transmitter, since there is no member present for coupling the swinging chute 2 to the bolt 6. He can hear but cannot make himself understood until he inserts a coin and operates the collect key. The completion of calls without inserting a coin, or the use of one coin for several calls, is thus effectively prevented.

Preferred calls, or calls of higher value, e. g. suburban or toll calls are in most cases established by an operator. The transmission of a checking signal to the operator is possible, according to the invention, only after inserting a number of coins corresponding to the call of higher value. If, for instance the charge of the preferred call 'is twice that required for local calls, the checking signal can only be given after inserting two coins.

Upon the operator requesting the sub scriber to pay, the latter has to depress the key 18. If the number of coins for the preferred call are already present in the coin chute 2, the last inserted coin or topmost coin, responsive to the movement of the swinging chute 2, acts upon the lever 14 of the signalling device protruding into the excision 13. According to the invention, this signalling device is an elastic pendulum which, upon being actuated once, swings to and fro and opens and closes the contacts 16/17. By means of the acoustic signal, audible in the receiver of the operator, the latter recognizes that the subscriber has paid and she completes the desired connection. If the subscriber has not paid the necessary number of coins, the lever 14 cannot be actuated upon depressing the payment key 18. The result is that the coins already inserted are lost to the subscriber, who only gets a connection when a number of coins corresponding to the charge have been reinserted and collected.

The present invention is not limited to the example shown. For instance the operator handling the preferred calls can be given severalv distinct acoustic signals, a different signal being given when three coins are inserted than when only two coins are put in. This will of course be understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin collect telephone station having a laterally movable coin chute, means for moving said chute to collect a plurality of coins deposited therein, a signal device, and means operated during the movement of said chute by a particular one of said plurality of inserted coins for operating said device to transmit a characteristic signal to an intermediate operator.

2. In a coin collect telephone station, a movable coin chute, means for laterally moving said chute to collect coins deposited therein, meansoperated by a single coin deposited in said chute for completing calls of a certain value under control of the subscriber at said station, and means effective during the movement of said chute and operable by a certain one of a plurality of inserted coins for C0111- pleting calls of a higher value under control of an intermediate operator only if the correct number of coins are inserted.

3. In a telephone pay station provided for extending calls of a certain value solely under control of the calling party, and for extending calls of a higher value under control of an intermediate operator, a movable coin chute, means for laterally moving said chute to collect coins deposited therein, a signal device, a pendulum for operating the same, and means ope-rated during the movement of said chute and effective only if the correct number of coins corresponding to a call of higher value are deposited for operating said pendulum to transmit an audible-checking signal to said operator.

4. In a telephone pay station provided for extending calls of low value and calls of high value requiring the deposit of a variable num ber of coins, a signal device for transmitting a checking signal to an intermediate operator to denote that the correct number of coins corresponding to a call of high value have been deposited, a laterally displaceable coin chute, subscriber controlled means for displacing said chute to collect deposited coins, and means operated only by the last inserted coin during the displacement of said chute for operating said signal.

5. In a telephone pay station provided for extending calls of low value and calls of high value requiring the deposit of a variable number of coins, a signal device, a laterally displaceable coin chute for receiving said coins, means for displacing said chute to collect deposited coins, means operated by a single coin deposited in said chute for completing a call of low value solely under control of the subscriber manipulating said station, and

1 means operated by the last one of a plurality of deposited coins corresponding to the amount required for a call of high value, for operating said signal device during the displacement of said chute to denote the correctdeposit to an intermediate operator.

6. In a telephone pay station provided for extending calls of low value and calls of high value requiring the deposit of a variable number of coins, signals, a movable coin chute for receiving said coins, means for laterally moving said chute to collect coins deposited therein, means operated by a single coin for completing a call of 10W value solely under control of the party manipulating said station, and means effective during the movement of said chute and o erated by certain ones of a plurality of a ditional coins for operating said signals to denote to an exchange operator the amount deposited for calls of high value.

7. In a coin collect mechanism, a chute for receiving a plurality of coins at one time comprising a stationary section and a section attached rotatably thereto and continuous therewith, means for moving said rotatable section to collect all of said coins deposited therein, an opening in said rotatable section, a pendulum interupter, means operated by a particular coin protruding thru said opening for actuating said interrupter during the movement of said rotatablesection, and means actuated by said interrupter for producing a characteristic signal denoting the number of coins deposited in said chute.

8. In a coin collect mechanism, a chute for receiving a plurality of coins comprising a stationary section and a section attached rotatably thereto and continuous therewith, means for moving said rotatable section to collect all of said coins deposited therein at the same instant, an opening in said rotatable section, a pendulum interrupter, means operated by a particular coin protruding thru said opening for actuating said interrupter during the movement of said rotatable section, and means actuated by said interrupter for producing a characteristic signal denoting the number of coins deposited in said chute, and circuit means for transmitting said signal.

9. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, means responsive to the deposit and collection of a single coin in said chute for extending calls under control of asubscriber, an interrupter, and means responsive to the deposit and collection of a plurality of coins in said chute for operating said interrupter to extend calls under control of an operator.

10. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, means responsive to the deposit and collection of a single coin in said chute for extending and completing calls under control of the subscriber, an interrupter, and means responsive to the deposit and collection of a plurality of coins in said chute and operative by only the last of said coins for operating said interrupter to extend calls under control of an operator.

11. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, an interrupter in operative relation to said coin chute, means responsive to the deposit and collection of a single coin in said chute for extending calls under control of the subscriber Without operating said interrupter and means responsive to the deposit and collection of a plurality of coins in said chute for operating said interrupter to extendcalls under control of an operator.

12. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, an interrupter in operative relation to said coin chute, means responsive to the deposit and collection of a single coin in said chute for extending calls under control of the subscriber without operating said interrupter, and means responsive to the deposit and col lection of a plurality of coins in said chute and only operative by the last one of said coins for operating said interrupter to extend calls under control of an operator.

13. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, an interrupter in operative relation to said coin chute, contacts for signalling an operator controlled by said interrupter, means responsive to the deposit and collection of a single coin in said chute for extending a call only under control of the subscriber without operating said interrupter, and means a plurality of coins in said chute and operative by only the last one of said coins for operating said interrupter to control said contacts and signal an operator to extend calls only under control of said operator.

14. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, an interrupter in operative relation to a coin in said coin chute, means responsive to the deposit and collection of a single coin in said chute for extending calls under control of a subscriber, and interrupter contacts for signalling an operator controlled by said interrupter responsive to the deposit and collection of the last one of a plurality of coins for extending calls under control of said operator.

15. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, a spring bolt normally out of engagement from said chute, a pivoted locking member having one end protruding into said coin chute and the other end locking said spring bolt, a coin deposited in said chute for initiating a call, vsaid coin operating said locking member to release said spring bolt and allow it to engage saidchute, means on said spring bolt for holding said deposited coin, in said I chute, a collect key for collecting said deposited coin and to extend said call, means responsive to the operation of said collect key for moving said spring bolt into locking position with said locking member and means responsive to the release of said key for disengaging said coin from said bolt and collecting the same.

16. In a telephone pay station, a coin chute, a spring bolt normally out of engagement with an opening in said chute, a pivoted looking member, one end of said member obstructing the opening of said chute and the other end engaging and locking said bolt, means responsive to the depositing of a coin in said chute for moving said locking member and releasing said bolt into the opening in said chute, means on said bolt for retaining said deposited coin in said chute, means for depositing and holding a second coin in said chute on top of said first coin, an interrupter in operative relation with said second coin in said chute, a collect key, means responsive to the operation of said key for moving said first coin against said spring bolt to lock said bolt on said locking member, means also responsive to the said operation of said key for moving said second coin to operate said interrupter to signal an operator, and means responsive to the release of said key for collecting both of said coins.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this first day of June, A. D. 1927.

ING. MICHELE AUTERI.

responsive to the deposit and collection of 

